No settlement in Bulgaria remains completely without water supply, but many regions operate under strict water rationing. This became clear during an official press conference in the village of Yoakim Gruevo, where Ministers Ivan Ivanov and Manol Genov presented the current situation and measures being taken.
A key point in the statements was the guarantee that all 51 complex dams in the country are capable of providing sufficient water for drinking and domestic needs, even during a prolonged period without rainfall. Minister Genov emphasized the priority of water supply, presenting the hierarchy of water usage: first - drinking water, then - irrigation, and finally - energy needs.
During the visit, a large-scale infrastructure project was launched for the reconstruction of 16 streets and a complete replacement of the water supply network in the village. The investment amounts to nearly 5 million leva, financed by the Investment Program for Municipal Projects, which has a total budget of over 7 billion leva.
Minister Ivanov made a specific appeal to local administrations to review their project proposals, recommending the reallocation of funds from secondary activities to critically important water infrastructures. "Sometimes it is more reasonable to give up a playground in order to replace an outdated water pipeline," he was adamant.
Serious attention was also given to the problem of uranium contamination in water sources in the Haskovo region. A large-scale program for the construction of local treatment plants is planned over the next two years. Temporarily, the possibility of moving treatment facilities from the Stara Zagora region is being explored.
The heads of the two ministries demonstrated a coordinated approach and readiness for quick and effective solutions in the field of water supply, placing emphasis on long-term planning and modernization of water infrastructure.